MÖNCHENGLADBACH – New-Blauhaus is a technologically innovative campus building designed by German practice Kadawittfeldarchitektur and conceived in cooperation with NEW – German energy and water utility company – and the Hochschule Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences.
The facility complies with Passivhaus Standards to deliver a completely self-sustaining educational environment. The zero-emissions building contains multiple functions including the campus library, a business start-up centre and an energy lab for student use. Showcasing the implementation of sustainable technologies, the structure has been designed as an educational tool. The firm explains: ‘The aim was to focus on the visible use and not the didactical principles of energy’. The façade, defined by the firm as a ‘low resource energy generation system’, consists of photovoltaic panels and glass windows which alternate inclinations across the exterior to express a woven aesthetic.
Situated within a park at the campus’ entrance – connecting the university and the city – the building becomes a welcome point. The structure is positioned at the edge of the road, offering ease of access and an immediate approach. A pentagonal plan minimises the facility’s footprint, reducing the impact on the surrounding park as well as balancing a favourable volume-to-surface ratio to increase energy efficiency.
Photos courtesy of Andreas Horsky